Donald McVay's TealogDonald McVay's tealog on Steepsterhttp://steepster.com/
Premium Green Decaf from Stash Tea CompanyI would consider this decaf green very different from Stash's Premium Green(caffeinated). It has a very astringent taste under the tongue. By astringent, I mean it has a very lemony effect under the tongue. It is great in the evening when you want a green tea, but do not want the caffeine. Just do not expect it to be like the regular Premium Green.Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:54:52 -0500/teas/Premium%20Green%20Decaf/17462-premium-green-decaf?note=97537
Gyokuro Asahi Pearl Dew from Stash Tea CompanyGyokuro is my favorite tea. The quality from Stash is very good as well as affordable. It is usually half the price of other companies. It has a sweet spinach vegetal taste. To me it is a great pick-me-up tea. It can calm as well as energize at the same time, due to the amount of theanine in the tea. I usually brew it around 160-175 and have yet to get a bitter steep out of it.Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:58:27 -0500/teas/Gyokuro%20Asahi%20Pearl%20Dew/15266-gyokuro-asahi-pearl-dew?note=97538
Super Irish Breakfast from Stash Tea CompanyMy usual morning brews consist of various darjeeling's, but I decided to go with a more caffeinated blend. I do not use sweeteners in black tea. This brew does not come out bitter, thus not requiring milk or sugar. I found it to be very rounded. I have had it for weeks, but I can not tell that it is more caffeinated. Very good taste & worth a try.Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:02:31 -0500/teas/Super%20Irish%20Breakfast/612-super-irish-breakfast?note=97539
Gotcha Matcha Cafe Grade Matcha Tea from Matcha SourceI must say everything about this matcha is perfect. The shipping packaging, the container, the color, the smell, & the taste are amazing. I purchased this matcha not for adding to desserts or ruin with milk, but to enjoy as a price conscious version of matcha. I absolutely love Gyokuro, & for this to be the ground version of it..is nothing short of amazing. The powder itself is a little bitter without water. Once infused with water, it gives off a spinach smell with a sweet taste. The color of the matcha is a darker shade of "bright green". I will definitely be purchasing the other 2 varieties from Matcha Source. This matcha is highly recommended for the price & quantity.Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:23:54 -0500/teas/Gotcha%20Matcha%20Cafe%20Grade%20Matcha%20Tea/7189-gotcha-matcha-cafe-grade-matcha-tea?note=98138
Darjeeling Wood Smoke OP Black Tea from Stash Tea CompanyThis is an interesting take on a Darjeeling. The smokey smell is very much resembles a Green Gunpowder tea. You still get that slight muscatel flavor mixed in with a wood smoke & slightly floral taste. I do not recommend steeping this one a second time. The flavor notes change drastically, & not for the better.Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:13:24 -0500/teas/Darjeeling%20Wood%20Smoke%20OP%20Black%20Tea/24347-darjeeling-wood-smoke-op-black-tea?note=99060
Gotcha Matcha Cafe Grade Matcha Tea from Matcha SourceHad to update this tasting note again. Aromas of spinach & seaweed. Powder is bitter. The frothed mixture is sweet. An un-frothed mix with water is bitter. Holds froth bubble & consistency for a long period of time..ex: 15mins.Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:18:10 -0500/teas/Gotcha%20Matcha%20Cafe%20Grade%20Matcha%20Tea/7189-gotcha-matcha-cafe-grade-matcha-tea?note=99061
Japanese Sencha (organic) from DAVIDsTEAI love properly brewed sencha, but this is an interesting one. It is really hard to brew wrong unless you use boiling water, which is a no-no for green teas anyway. Regular sencha's should be brewed at around 30s seconds to 1:30. This timing makes this sencha too weak. It almost tastes like a second brew to start with. 2 minutes is a perfect brewing time. I would recommend this as a "sencha for beginners" or "someone on a budget", myself being the latter. It's a good price for a mediocre tea.Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:28:47 -0500/teas/Japanese%20Sencha%20(organic)/14946-japanese-sencha-organic?note=104564
Wuyi Green (Wu Yi Qing Cha) from Silk Road TeasLove this stuff. It reminds me of what green tea should taste like. Has a very vegetal flavor. The description says a fruity flavor, but I'm not finding those notes. I find it to be somewhere in the middle of a Sencha and a Dragonwell. You get a slightly grassy flavor (sencha) with a hint of nuttiness (dragonwell). If you drink green vegetal teas, you must buy this one.Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:24:37 -0400/teas/Wuyi%20Green%20(Wu%20Yi%20Qing%20Cha)/28974-wuyi-green-wu-yi-qing-cha?note=122080